Airbnb settlements disengagement decision shows the way forward for companies in the emerging context of business and human rights compliance

Earlier this week, the San Francisco-based company, Airbnb, announced that it will remove from its popular accommodation bookings website all properties (currently around 200 Airbnb listings) in illegal Israeli settlements built in the occupied West Bank. This positive development is a demonstration of the necessary disengagement action that responsible companies should be taking so as to comply with their business and human rights responsibilities in the context of settlement-related activities in the occupied Palestinian territory.

In its press statement, Airbnb sets out the following ‘decision-making framework’ that it has created to determine how to treat its listings in occupied territories. The fourth criterion is particularly relevant from a business and human rights perspective.

Recognise that each situation is unique and requires a case-by-case approach.

Consult with a range of experts and our community of stakeholders.

Assess any potential safety risks for our hosts and guests.

Evaluate whether the existence of listings is contributing to existing human suffering.

Determine whether the existence of listings in the occupied territory has a direct connection to the larger dispute in the region.

It is against these criteria that Airbnb importantly concluded that it “should remove listings in Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank that are at the core of the dispute between Israelis and Palestinians”.

Excellent credit goes to our colleagues at Human Rights Watch, for reportedly providing the catalyst for Airbnb to consider whether it could maintain its involvement with illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank that adversely impact upon Palestinian’s basic human rights. Points of clarification do however remain that should be pursued with Airbnb. Their press statement does not state when the removal of listings will take effect (a search on their website just now indicates that listings in illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank are still available). Moreover, it does not expressly state that listings within illegal Israeli settlements in occupied East Jerusalem will also be removed.

Notwithstanding these outstanding issues, this significant disengagement decision does additionally highlight the importance of the pending UN business and human rights database that will list companies involved in specific settlement-related activities. The publication of the UN database, which could occur early next year after a long period of delay (explained in an LPHR Q&A here), could accelerate the imperative action for other companies to adhere to their business and human rights responsibilities and accordingly disengage from activities connected to settlements and their associated infrastructure (the latter including the Separation Barrier, military checkpoints, and settler-only bypass roads).

From our blog

In the last few weeks, the Israeli government has announced plans for a significant expansion of settlements in the occupied West Bank, alongside a parallel initiative to develop further new legislation as a means to enable the legalisation of illegal ‘outposts’. This blog highlights these troubling developments which contravene clear obligations set by international law.

Earlier this week, the San Francisco-based company, Airbnb, announced that it will remove from its popular accommodation bookings website all properties (currently around 200 Airbnb listings) in illegal Israeli settlements built in the occupied West Bank. This positive development is a demonstration of the necessary disengagement action that responsible companies should be taking so as to comply with their business and human rights responsibilities in the context of settlement-related activities in the occupied Palestinian territory. (more…)

In the summer of 2014, during the military offensive on Gaza that Israel code-named ‘Operation Protective Edge’, at least five Palestinians in Gaza, including a child, had their lives endangered when used as human shields by Israel’s military forces. (more…)

At the start of last week, the Government of Israel imposed a series of severe restrictions on the movement of goods through Kerem Shalom, the main commercial crossing to and from the occupied Gaza Strip, which will remain in place until further notice.

Our Feb 2018 letter to Alistair Burt, indicating deep concern that policy of voting against such resolutions would be entirely incompatible with the UK's long-standing stated commitment to promote the rule of law and human rights in international fora lphr.org.uk/wp-content/upl…pic.twitter.com/GH7lM64ERD